4 ms·
"one can compute with Lisp programs present in the machine without parsing" Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you still have to parse Lisp code? Granted, it
by j_baker 16y ago
"one can compute with Lisp programs present in the
machine without parsing"
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you still have to parse Lisp code? Granted, it may be a very simple and primitive type of parsing, but parsing nonetheless.
- zachbeane 16y agoYou have to parse Lisp programs that are stored in a string or a file. You can make new Lisp programs from objects that have never been in a file.
- kragen 16y agoYou don't have to write a parser because it's already built into your Lisp system in a way you can use.
- j_baker 16y agoWell yes, but I was making the assumption that you were writing the Lisp system. I suppose it makes sense that you don't have to parse it if you're using the Lisp system. :-)
- burke 16y agoI assume this is referring to the ability to build up a list of arbitrary data in memory, then execute it. In most languages, you'd parse some string to an AST, but in lisp, your fundamental data structure is essentially the same as the AST.